Sitting next to somebody on a train

When I was a student in Cardiff I got the train back to my parents home in Hertfordshire. This required an intercity train to Paddington, then the tube to Liverpool Street to connect with the train to Bishop's Stortford. The train stopped at Bristol and a man in a formal work suit and briefcase boarded the train and sat in the seat opposite me. We exchanged hellos but nothing more and I returned to my book. We both got off the train at Paddington and drifted off into the busy Paddington station. I made my way to Liverpool Street station and about 2 hours later I was having a cup of tea with my mother in Bishop's Stortford. About 3 hours later, I said that I would go to the local fish and chip shop, about a 5 minute walk. There was a queue of about 10 people so I took my place at the back and waited in line. Quite quickly I thought I recognised the man in the loud Bermuda shirt, shorts and flip flops a few places ahead of me in the queue. Despite his much changed appearance from his work attire, it was the man from the train who got on at Bristol! He recognised me as well and we both laughed at the coincidence. I just think of all the events that have to coalesce to make this chance happen - train I catch, carriage I sit in, seat I sit in, what time I go to the chip shop etc. And the stranger who lives near to my parents who was working in Bristol has to make very similar choices! I've never seen him again, naturally.